1961-12-04 Floyd Patterson w rsc 4 (15) Tom McNeeley, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Canada - WORLD. Referee: Jersey Joe Walcott. Not in the same class as the champion, the rough, tough McNeeley (197) tried to make a fight of it but before he could get going he was dropped by a left hook halfway through the opening round. From thereafter it would be just a matter of time and when the fight was stopped with just nine seconds of the fourth session remaining the hapless McNeeley had been decked a further nine times. It seemed as though Patterson (188½) could have ended this one as an when he wanted and after McNeeley proved to be more dangerous with his head than his fists he did not hang around.

Finally, with the fight public doubting whether Paterson would ever defend his title against the long-time outstanding challenger, Sonny Liston, the match was made. The NBA had called upon Patterson to defend by 13 March 1962, but that was not realistic and the Association were forced to accept that the fight everyone wanted to see would take a little longer to come to fruition. Surprisingly, the NYSAC refused to give Liston a licence to box in the State due to his past criminal record and the fight was booked for Chicago, Illinois.